Bought this little gem from a guy at work a few days ago. hoping to get her running in the next couple of weeks...

1998 ford ranger 4cyl 2wd 5sp. has air but really no other options. was bought brand new off the lot by a guy I work with. has 140000 on the clock. he had new tires put on last year along with 2axle brake job. cluch was done less than 2 months ago. blew head gasket going to work last week. mechanic told him one cylinder fried and gasket gone. sounds more like just a gasket. either way, $200 for gasket, or $500 for a used motor.
only gave $600 for it. body is completely straight minus the front bumper brackets needing to be straightened out, but bumper doesn't have a scratch on it. truck was hit by a forklift in the tailgate 3 years ago, fixed and replaced. only accident in it's history...

think I scored pretty good if I can get her going....
time to park the big ford and drive the baby ford. 26mpg vs 12mpg..
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e194/sandm01/SDC11215.jpg

WaterBullDawg1980

08-20-2011, 12:33 PM

Something about those old Rangers. Have a buddy that has one with 300K on it. For what you paid, even with a motor replacement is WELL WORTH it. GREAT buy.

rdlangston13

08-20-2011, 05:40 PM

My first truck was a 1984 dodge power ram 4x4. I had it for like months. My second truck was a 1995 ford ranger 4 cyl 5 speed reg cab. Only option was AC and sliding rear window! I racked up 219,000 miles on mine with no problems other than an alternator. I got 400 miles on the 16 gallon tank and it started every time i turned the key. I only got rid of it because I wrecked it and upgraded to a newer bigger ranger. After I wrecked it I sold it to a buddy I worked with for 500 bucks who strapped the front end to a tree, pulled it out, put on a new radiator, water pump, and fan and now he drives it. Even after it was wrecked it fired right up when I turned the key.

Nice little truck Sandm ive been toying with this exact idea driving 27 miles one way to work is costing my 2 gallons of diesel at 4 bucks a gallon. The reason these rangers run so well especially the 4cyn is the 2.4Lt is has in it is the 5.0 of the 4 banger world. Its a tested and true milage engine. Very simple design not a ton of HP or Torque so very little stress on the engine and not a lot of computer parts since its a simple engine. Also since there isnt a lot of options theres less to break. Excellent find my friend.

rc5695

08-20-2011, 08:47 PM

good score! Sure looks clean, and can't beat a 1-owner vehicle of whom you know the owner and history.

rdlangston13

08-20-2011, 09:04 PM

i think the newer ones with the 2.4l are DOHC, mine was the old school 2.3l SOHC. like a tank man, not fast at all but it NEVER broke.

WaterBullDawg1980

08-21-2011, 09:58 PM

Why in the world can they not make trucks like this any longer? I mean seriously. Is it just bc all of the extra junk that they are putting in them now? Heated side mirrors, back up cameras, blah, blah blah......

Just give me one that will run and for a very long time before breaking down.....

sandm

09-17-2011, 01:39 PM

well, after piddling around with this for a few hours here and there, finally bit the bullet and took 1/2 day off yesterday and finished up this morning.

IT RUNS!!!!

so excited to finally turn the 12mpg tow rig into just that, a driveway queen tow rig....
total cost for the ford:
truck-$600
engine-$400
parts/supplies-$126
beer for engine hoist rental-$18
total-$1144

not too shabby for a '98 one owner rig that probably books out at $3k :)

was very satisfying to hear the engine fire up this morning first time. guess I still have the mechanic skills in me....

jpetty3023

09-17-2011, 02:01 PM

Awesome DIY sandm. I wish I had just an ounce of mechanical skills so I could do some of my own work

c.rix

09-22-2011, 05:37 PM

Awesome DIY sandm. I wish I had just an ounce of mechanical skills so I could do some of my own work

you know that there is only one way to learn!!!

great find sandm !

jpetty3023

09-22-2011, 08:56 PM

^^^. Yes sir, silly thing is my dad owned a repair shop growing up and always wanted to teach me the tricks of the trade. I always refused to learn from him thou thinking I'd have him around forever to do my repairs for me. He built dirt track race cars and everything but like a dummy, I was either on the ball fields or chasing the ladies around town. Wish now I'd pay a little better attention.